e332. The 4th Wall Bounce: The Reflexivity of Media and Culture

So here’s a weird question for you… in a TV show like Batman, do the regular people know the phrase “dynamic duo?” In the movie Amazing Spider-Man Peter Parker uses the theme song from the 1960s Spider-man cartoon as his ringtone… but what song does he think that is? If two TV shows cross over, does that mean that the people in those shows can never watch the other shows or any other one connected to them on television? Popular culture both reflects and affects our world. But what happens when you actually trace the ways in which a pop culture element affects our world and then returns to the world of pop culture? In this episode, Mav and are joined by guest Mikey Wood, to dive into the concept of the pop culture bounce and the effects on and continuity in media. Through a blend of comics, movies, and historical contexts, the episode highlights how pop culture both influences and mirrors societal changes over time, concluding with various personal reflections and project plugs from the participants. We work through everything from linguistics to philosophy to metaphysics to morality. And it all starts with a silly little question about Batman. There’s a lot to cover on this one so listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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